Holographic 3d display

ABSTRACT

Disclosure is directed to projecting holographic images in connection with a program service such as cable or satellite television. In one instance, the projected holographic image may be an image of product that is featured in advertisement or other portion of program service. In another instance, the projected holographic image may be an image of a electronic programming guide with screens or menu displayed on sides of a cube or other geometric form. In still another instance, the projected holographic image is a video that supplements an instructional video or live broadcast.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a divisional of U.S. Non-Provisional ApplicationSer. No. 12/901,849 filed Oct. 11, 2010.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments discussed herein are directed to projecting holographicimages in connection with a program service such as cable or satellitetelevision.

BACKGROUND

Program services such as cable and satellite television may be displayedon a television, a monitor, or other display device that features a flatdisplay surface that typically outputs two-dimensional video. Thetypical two-dimensional video may be unable to display some features ofthree dimensional objects such as depth or the ability to view theobject from a variety of angles. Due to these limitations, displayedobjects may lack a realistic appearance. Accordingly, it may bedesirable to display program service content or video that supplementsprogram service in a manner that does not suffer from the drawbacks oftraditional display formats.

SUMMARY

Embodiments discussed herein are directed to projecting holographicimages in connection with a program service such as cable or satellitetelevision. In one instance, the projected holographic image may be animage of product that is featured in advertisement or other portion ofprogram service. In another instance, the projected holographic imagemay be an image of a electronic programming guide with screens or menudisplayed on sides of a cube or other geometric form. In still anotherinstance, the projected holographic image is a video that supplements aninstructional video or live broadcast.

One embodiment is directed to a method for providing an advertisementimage, comprising: receiving a program service transmission at areceiver, the program service transmission having a plurality ofchannels; outputting at least one channel of the plurality of channelsfrom the receiver for display on a display device, wherein the at leastone channel includes a display of a product; and concurrently with thedisplay of the at least one product, outputting a holographic image ofthe product.

Another embodiment is directed to a method for providing an electronicprogramming guide, comprising: receiving a program service transmissionat a receiver, the program service transmission having a plurality ofchannels; outputting at least one channel of the plurality of channelsfrom the receiver for display on a display device; and concurrently withthe display of the at least one channel, outputting a holographic imageof an electronic programming guide, the holographic image including atleast a first menu and a second menu.

Yet another embodiment is directed to a method for supplementing programservice content, comprising: receiving a program service transmission ata receiver, the program service transmission having a plurality ofchannels; outputting at least one channel of the plurality of channelsfrom the receiver for display on a display device, the at least onechannel including a program; and concurrently with outputting the atleast one channel, outputting a holographic video related the program.

Another embodiment is directed to a system for displaying a holographicimage, comprising: a signal receiver configured to receive a programservice transmission, the program service transmission having aplurality of channels; an output section connected to the signalreceiver, the output section configured to output a signal having atleast one channel of the plurality of channels from the program servicetransmission for display on a display device, the at least one channelincluding a program; and a holographic projector connected to the outputsection, the holographic projector configured to output a holographicvideo in combination with the program.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a sample system, components andimplementations discussed herein;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart that illustrates a method in accordance withembodiments discussed herein;

FIG. 3 is an illustration a holographic projection in accordance withthe method illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart that illustrates another method in accordancewith embodiments discussed herein;

FIG. 5 is an illustration a holographic projection in accordance withthe method illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart that illustrates still another method inaccordance with embodiments discussed herein;

FIG. 7 is an illustration a holographic projection in accordance withthe method illustrated in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is an illustration another holographic projection in accordancewith the method illustrated in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments discussed herein are directed to projecting holographicimages in connection with a program service such as cable or satellitetelevision. In one instance, the projected holographic image may be animage of product that is featured in advertisement or other portion ofprogram service. In another instance, the projected holographic imagemay be an image of a electronic programming guide with screens or menudisplayed on sides of a cube or other geometric form. In still anotherinstance, the projected holographic image is a video that supplements aninstructional video or live broadcast.

As used herein, a “receiver” may be any device capable of receivingvideo and/or audio content included in a broadcast or other programservice transmission from a service provider. As used herein, a serviceprovider may include any service that provides a program servicetransmission to a receiver such as, without limitation, a satellitetelevision service, a direct television service, a cable televisionservice, or a streaming video delivered across a network such as theInternet. It should be understood that the term “program servicetransmission” generally embraces not only satellite or terrestrialbroadcasts and/or narrowcasts but also transmission of informationacross any wired or wireless transmission medium. Accordingly, a“program service transmission” encompasses transmission of informationacross a cable network (for example a cable headend to cable receiver),an Internet or other computer-accessible medium (including a local areanetwork, wide-area network, and so on), including Internet protocoltelevision transmissions, a wireless network such as a radio frequencyor infrared network, and so on.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a general operating environmentshowing components and features of embodiments discussed herein. FIG. 1depicts a service provider 104 that transmits or otherwise provides aprogram service transmission to a receiver 108. The receiver 108 caninclude a set-top box (STB), a digital video recorder (DVR), a cablereceiver, a general purpose computing device, a handheld communicationsdevice including but not limited to a table computer or a mobile phone,and so on. A receiver 108 may also include a cable modem that receivesstreaming audio. The receiver 108 may be associated with an individual,business or other entity, user or subscriber that receives a programservice transmission from the service provider 104. Generally the terms“user” and/or “subscriber” refer to an individual or company whoreceives a program service transmission. This may include those who havepurchased a subscription to the program service transmission.Alternatively or additionally, the terms “user” and/or “subscriber” mayrefer to individuals who have been given access to the program servicetransmission through promotional offers and/or other non-fee-basedagreements.

In connection with embodiments that operate in the context of asatellite television service, the service provider 104 may provide aprogram service transmission through an uplink center 112.Implementations discussed herein may utilize a direct broadcastsatellite (DBS) system which can incorporate packetized transmissionsignals according to an appropriate standard, such as the MPEG-2 and/orMPEG-4 standards. The uplink center 112 may include a transmitter orother equipment operable to transmit a modulated signal having datarepresenting audio and/or visual content. The modulated signal may bereceived at a satellite 116, which in turn retransmits the modulatedsignal to be received at one or more terrestrial locations. Theretransmitted signal may be received from the satellite 116 at one ormore satellite dishes 120, which are typically associated with one ormore receivers 108. A receiver 108 may include a tuner 124 operable toreceive the program service transmission signal through the satellitedish 120 and a decoder 128 to decode the received signal. The decoder128 may be programmed to decrypt, demodulate, demultiplex or otherwisedecode some or all of the received signals in accordance with purchasesand selections made by a user. Output from the decoder 128 may bedirected to an audio visual (A/V) processing module 140. The A/Vprocessing module 140 may process the video and audio streams usingdigital-to-analog conversion techniques, or compressed digital touncompressed digital conversion techniques, to produce one or moreoutput signals. It should be appreciated that the foregoing is but onediscussion of a possible embodiment and product transmission service.

As shown in FIG. 1, the receiver 108 may be provided in association witha holographic projector 148. The holographic projector 148 may beimplemented as a stand-alone device. In accordance with otherembodiments, the holographic projector 148 may be integrated as acomponent of the receiver 108. The holographic projector 148 is operableto project a three-dimensional image or video that may be seen by aviewer without the aid of 3D glasses or other headgear. The holographicprojector 148 may operate by projecting a volumetric image into a volumewhich contains suspended particles or other means for reflecting light.In one embodiment, the holographic projector 148 may be a spherical,cylindrical, cubic or other three-dimensional liquid crystal display(LCD) that presents a three-dimensional image with multiple depths oflayers having different or dynamic translucence. The individual layersmay be controlled to emphasize certain aspects of an image that theproducer of the image wants to be in focus. The spherical LCD or otherholographic projector 148 may project several views simultaneously sothat different users see different perspectives simultaneously. Also,the position of the user's view may vary as he or she move around thescreen or projected image. The holographic projector 148 may alsoinclude a high brightness display so that the projected image is stillviewable in high sunlight conditions. The holographic projector 148 maybe mounted in a household object such as a coffee table, such that thethree-dimensional image appears to project upwards from the surface ofthe table. The holographic projector may also be mounted in otherlocations such as a ceiling or a wall.

As another option, the holographic projector may consist of multiplelasers operably connected to a modulator. The modulator may accept anincoming video signal and convert the signal to a vibrational pattern.As light from the lasers pass through the modulator, the vibrations ofthe modulator may affect the brightness and/or frequency of the emittedlight. Light passing through the modulator may be projected onto ascreen; the varying intensities and frequencies of light modified by thevibrational pattern of the modulator may cooperate to form a hologram.The screen may be thicker than a typical LCD display and may betranslucent in order to display the hologram. Thus, the screen may showthe light as a three-dimensional image appearing to be inside thescreen. Other embodiments may use different methods for creating adiffraction pattern that may be used to create a hologram in or on anappropriate surface.

Again, it should be noted that embodiments may operate with differentproduct transmission services. Accordingly, although a satellite systemis provided as an example of a program service transmission system, itshould be understood that other networks or broadcasts for transmittingdata may be used by alternative embodiments. For example, embodimentsmay be implemented in connection with a cable service. In this case, theservice provider 104 and the receiver 108 may communicate over acommunication path that includes various combinations of local and widearea networks and/or the Internet.

The receiver 108 may include or be associated with a memory or otherstorage device 152, such as magnetic or optical storage. The storagedevice 152 may be operable to store data received from the decodedsatellite signal. The storage device 152 may be volatile or non-volatilememory implemented using any suitable technique or technology such as,for example, random access memory (RAM), disk storage, flash memory,solid state and so on. The storage device 152 may be located within thereceiver 108 or separately from the receiver 108. The storage device 152may removable in nature. The stored data set may include audio and/orvisual content to be transmitted and output through the output device144. Generally, audio/visual content may include still images, videoimages, animation and/or audio. Portable Network Graphics (PNG) or otherappropriate formats, such as for example, Tagged Image File Format(TIFF), Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG), Motion Picture ExpertsGroup (MPEG) -2, MPEG-4 may be used to display an image or video.

The receiver 108 may additionally include a processor 156 operable torun executable code in connection with various functions associated withthe receiver 108. For example, the processor 156 may display graphics,images, animations or other content through the output device 144. Thestorage device 152 may store an application, file, or other data that isuseable by the processor 156. As used herein, an application includesprocessor executable code that may be run to carry out one or morefunctions associated with the receiver 108. “Processor executable code”includes any computer-readable media or commands that may be ultimatelyinterpreted by a processor, such as HTML or XML files that are renderedinto user-viewable applications by an application executed by theprocessor 156.

The processor 156 may also perform such tasks as executing commandsreceived from a user. As used herein, a “user input device” may includeany device operable to receive input from a user and to convey the inputto the receiver 108. In one embodiment, the user input device 160 may bea hand-held device having a number of buttons or keys that when actuatedby a user cause the user input device to covey information to thereceiver 108 using a suitable communication means, such as an infraredsignal. The user input device 160 may include a pointing device orfunctionality that allows the user to control the position of a cursorthat is displayed on the output device 144. For example, the user inputdevice 160 may include a track ball or glide plane that may bemanipulated to control cursor movements. The user input device 160 mayinclude a motion sensor or accelerometer that allows a user to controldisplayed items or graphics, such as a cursor, through movements of hisor her hand or arm that cause a displacement of the user input device160. It should be appreciated that other input devices such as acomputer mouse or touch screen may be used and other communicationmeans, wired or wireless, may be used.

In one embodiment, the storage device 152 may be used to store a file orother data to produce a holographic electronic programming guide (EPG)152. When displayed by the holographic projector 148, the EPG data maybe set out in a grid, cube, cylinder or other appropriate format anddisplayed on a surface or surfaces of the three-dimensional image of ageometric form such as a cube. The data for the EPG may include aprogram schedule having program channels and program times arranged asrows and columns of the grid. The EPG data may be downloaded to thereceiver 108 at appropriate times from the service provider 104. Thestorage device 158 may also be used to store a file or data to produce aholographic image of product featured in an advertisement 154. Thethree-dimensional holographic ad 154 may be sent to the receiver 108 inconnection with products that are shown during a program or a programservice advertisement. The three-dimensional holographic advertisement154 may be stored or saved in response to user input so that theholographic advertisement 154 may be viewed at a latte time.Additionally, the storage device 152 may be used to store supplementalvideo 158 that may be shown by the holographic projector 148 inconnection with other programs such as instructional videos and livesporting events.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method in accordance withembodiments discussed herein. The method illustrated in FIG. 2 isdirected to providing a holographic advertisement. Initially, inoperation 204, the receiver 108 receives a program service transmission.As described above, this may include receiving a signal from a serviceprovider and processing that signal through various steps such astuning, demodulating, de-multiplexing, and so on. Following operation204, operation 208 may be executed. In operation 208, the receiver 108may output at least one channel for display on a display device 144. Asdescribed above, this may include processing one channel from theplurality of channels received within the program service transmission.Following operation 208, operation 212 may be executed.

In operation 212, the receiver 108 determines if a request has beenreceived for display of a holographic advertisement. Specifically, theprogram service channel displayed in operation 208 may include one ormore products. Products included in the display may be, for example,cars, motorcycles, boats, and so on. The products may be featured in anadvertisement that specifically targets the selling of the displayedproduct. In other instances, the product may be featured in a movie,television program, in a “product placement” manner. In connection withdisplaying the product, the receiver 108 may output a signal containinga prompt or popup that may be selected by the user to trigger thedisplay of a holographic advertisement. Accordingly, in operation 212,if no such trigger is received by the receiver 108, operation 204 mayagain be executed such that the receiver 108 continues to a receiveprogram service transmission and to display channels in association withthe received transmission. If, in operation 212, a request for aholographic advertisement has been received, operation 216 may beexecuted.

In operation 216, the receiver 108 may display a three-dimensionaladvertisement as a holographic projection. Operation 216 is illustratedin detail in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is an illustration of a viewing environmentfor a holographic advertisement. FIG. 3 includes a display device 144and a holographic projector 148. As shown in FIG. 3, the holographicprojector 148 is mounted or otherwise associated with a table 304. Thetable 304 is positioned in front of users 302 who are currently viewingthe display device 144. As shown in FIG. 3, the display device 144features a representation of an automobile. In response to a request fora holographic advertisement from the users 302, the holographicprojector 148 may display a three-dimensional holographic projection 308of the automobile featured on the display device 144. The holographicprojection 308 allows the user to view a three-dimensional image of theproduct to thereby gain greater appreciation for the features andappearance of the product. The three-dimensional projection 308 may berotatable or otherwise orientable through various inputs providedthrough the user input device 160. In some instances, the image 308 mayautomatically rotate or change positions in order to show various sidesor angles to the users 302. In other instances, the three-dimensionalimage 308 remains stationary. It should be appreciated that in theseinstances, a user 302 may position himself in various locations aroundthe image 308 to view the various angles that are made visible by theholographic projection 308.

In accordance with implementations discussed herein, once the user hasfinished viewing the three-dimensional holographic projection 308 theuser may choose to store a file used to project the image 308 in storage152. In this manner the image may be recalled and again projected forviewing by users 302. In the instance wherein a user is shopping for anautomobile, several such files may be collected and later displayed inconnection with comparison shopping for various automobiles.

The holographic projection 308 may be adapted to emphasize certainfeatures of the product that are shown as projected images. For example,the holographic projection 308 may be a motion picture in which variousfeatures are emphasized over time. For example, the hood of theautomobile may be opened to reveal the engine, the tires may be shownmoving over a road to emphasize various features of the suspensionsystem, or the interior of the car may be featured such that the usergets a full appreciation of features of the automobile.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart that illustrates a method in accordance withimplementations discussed herein. The method illustrated in FIG. 4 isdirected to providing a three-dimensional holographic projection of anelectronic programming guide (EPG). Initially, in operation 404, thereceiver 108 receives a program service transmission. As describedabove, this may include receiving a signal from a service provider andprocessing that signal through various steps such as tuning,demodulating, de-multiplexing, and so on. Following operation 404,operation 408 may be executed. In operation 408, the receiver 108 mayoutput at least one channel for display on a display device 144. Asdescribed above, this may include processing one channel from theplurality of channels received within the program service transmission.Following operation 408, operation 412 may be executed.

In operation 412, the receiver 108 determines if a request has beenreceived for an EPG display. Such a request may be entered by a userthrough appropriate commands input to the user input device 160. If, inoperation 412, the receiver 108 determines that no request has beenreceived, operation 404 may again follow such that the receiver 108continues to receive and display channels from a service provider 104.If, in operation 412, a request to view an EPG display has beenreceived, operation 416 may be executed.

In operation 416, the receiver 108 outputs a signal having an EPGsignal. The EPG signal may be configured to cause the holographicprojector 148 to output a three-dimensional representation of anelectronic programming guide. In one instance, this may include an “EPGCube” that shows various menus on each side of the cube. An EPG cube isillustrated in greater detail in FIG. 5. As can be seen in FIG. 5, theprojector 148 projects a cube or other three-dimensional object with aplurality of sides. Each side of the EPG cube 508 may include one ormore menus associated with an electronic programming guide. For example,if one user 302 wishes to personalize his EPG such that his favoritechannels and/or his upcoming scheduled programming appear in onedisplay, such a personalized menu may appear on one side of the EPG cube508. An additional side of the EPG cube 308 may be dedicated to a seconduser's 302 personalized EPG. By displaying a three-dimensional cube asshown in FIG. 5, each user may be able to simultaneously view his or herpersonalized EPG menu screens.

Referring again to FIG. 4, following operation 416, operation 420 may beexecuted. In operation 420, the receiver 108 determines if a request fora different EPG menu has been received. If, in operation 420, no requestfor a different EPG menu has been received, operation 416 may again beexecuted such that the display of the EPG cube is continued. If, inoperation 420, a request to view a different EPG menu is received,operation 424 may be executed.

In operation 424, the receiver 108 may output an EPG signal to theholographic projector 148 that causes the EPG cube 508 to rotate inthree-dimensional space such that the requested EPG menu is visible to aparticular user 302. In this manner, the requested menu may be visibleat a specific angle with respect to the displayed EPG cube 508 such thatother previously viewed menus are still visible at other angles withrespect to the displayed EPG cube 508. In this manner, one user 302 maybe allowed to view his requested EPG menu while others positioned atdifferent angles around the cube may still view other EPG menus, asappropriate.

Following operation 424, operation 428 may be executed. In operation428, the receiver 108 determines if an exit command has been receivedthat indicates that the EPG menu should be exited. If, in operation 428,no such exit command is received, operation 416 may be again executedsuch that the display of EPG cube 508 is continued. If, in operation428, an exit command is received, operation 404 may again be executedsuch that the receiver 108 continues to receive, decode, and display aprogram service channel.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method in accordance withembodiments discussed herein. The method illustrated in FIG. 6 isdirected to providing a supplemental holographic video or image inconnection with a program service transmission. Initially, in operation604, the receiver 108 receives a program service transmission. Asdescribed above, this may include receiving a signal from a serviceprovider and processing that signal through various steps such astuning, demodulating, de-multiplexing, and so on. Following operation604, operation 608 may be executed. In operation 608, the receiver 108may output at least one channel for display on a display device 144. Asdescribed above, this may include processing one channel from theplurality of channels received within the program service transmission.Following operation 608, operation 612 may be executed.

In operation 612, the receiver 108 determines if a trigger signal hasbeen received which indicates that an associated supplementalholographic projection is to be displayed. If no such trigger signal isreceived in operation 616, operation 604 may again be executed suchprogram service channels are received, decoded, and displayed. If, inoperation 616, a trigger signal is received, operation 616 may follow.

In operation 616, the receiver 108 may display a three-dimensionalsupplemental video projection. In one embodiment, supplementalholographic images or videos may be displayed in connection withinstructional videos that are shown on the display device 144. Anexample of an instructional supplemental video is shown in FIG. 7. Theinstructional video in FIG. 7 is, by way of example, a video of a yogaclass. As can be appreciated, many service providers offer instructionalvideos directed to fitness or exercise routines that allow a person tofollow the instructions given and thereby benefit from a directedexercise class in their own home. As shown in FIG. 7, the user 302 hasadopted a yoga posture in connection with watching the yogainstructional video shown on the display device 144. In this embodiment,the holographic projector 144 may be used at specific points in theinstructional video to emphasize certain points or certain importantaspects of a yoga sequence or technique. In this instance, theholographic projector 148 may display an image of a person who hasadopted a particular yoga pose in a correct or otherwise instructionalmanner. The holographic projection 708 may be referred to and referencedby the instructor who is otherwise displayed on the two-dimensionaldisplay 144. Accordingly, the user 302 may view the three-dimensionalprojection 708 to ensure that his practice or other adoption of the yogatechnique is correct.

In other embodiments, a supplemental video may be provided in connectionwith a broadcast or other real-time transmission of a program. Such asupplemental video is shown in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 8, the users 308are enjoying a football game that is displayed on display device 144. Atspecific times, during the broadcast of the football game, the serviceprovider 108 may additionally transmit supplemental video or images thatcan be displayed through the operation of the holographic projector 148.The holographic image in one instance may be an instant replay of afootball game that may be referenced by the commentators of the footballgame. The holographic projection of an instant replay may be availableonly to premium subscribers to the service provider and so on.

While embodiments are discussed herein in connection with the exemplarysatellite broadcast system shown in FIG. 1, it should be appreciatedthat embodiments may be used in connection other types of networks orcontent delivery mechanisms. Generally, the disclosure includes contentdelivered from a provider to a receiver across or over a network. Thenetwork across which content may be delivered may include satellitesystem, such as the one shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the network mayinclude a cable television network, local area network, wide areanetwork or the Internet. In connection with certain embodiments, areceiver may include a general purpose computer operable to receive dataor other content across a network, such as a wide area network of theinternet. In such embodiments, the computer may be configured so that aprovider can access a web site, a file transfer protocol (FTP) site, afile sharing system or site, and so on. Moreover, the order of methodoperations, such those shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, describedherein is by way of example and limitation. Certain implementations mayreorder method operations without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe disclosure.

1. A method for providing an advertisement image, comprising: receivinga program service transmission at a receiver, the program servicetransmission having a plurality of channels; outputting at least onechannel of the plurality of channels from the receiver for display on adisplay device, wherein the at least one channel includes a display of aproduct; and concurrently with the display of the at least one product,outputting a holographic image of the product.
 2. The method ofproviding an advertisement image of claim 1, wherein the holographicimage is output in response to a user selection of the product from thedisplay on the display device.
 3. The method of providing anadvertisement image of claim 1, further comprising: storing a data filefor the holographic image; and recalling the data file by the user at asubsequent time, wherein recalling the data file causes a second outputof holographic image of the product.
 4. The method of providing anadvertisement image of claim 1, further comprising: highlightingportions of the holographic image so as to emphasize an aspect of theproduct.